Friends, colleagues surprise Haug with endowment

School of Music donors Lida and Pieter Ouwehand honor Sue Haug, center, at a reception recognizing her years of service as director of the School of Music. Haug is stepping down from that post effective June 30, but will remain on the School of Music faculty.

Image: Stephanie Swindle

Friends, colleagues surprise Haug with endowment

May 10, 2017

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Friends and colleagues of Sue Haug surprised her with the establishment of an endowment in her honor at a reception on May 4. Haug, director of Penn State's School of Music since 2005, has stepped down from that post but will remain on the faculty.

The Sue Haug School of Music Director’s Endowed Scholarship will benefit both undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Music. Seventy-three individuals made donations totaling $70,000 to establish the award.

“This was the most amazing surprise — nothing could have been more meaningful,” said Haug. “Giving the gift of music to others, of course, is the life’s work of a music faculty member, and scholarship support is absolutely critical to this work. Penn State is a very special place, and I am deeply honored by this gift.”

Many longtime donors to the School of Music contributed to the endowment, including Pieter and Lida Ouwehand. “This endowment will provide additional scholarship funds to the School of Music to attract the best students. I encourage everybody who enjoys performances by the faculty and students of the School of Music to contribute to this endowment to further enhance the quality of the student body,” said Pieter.

The new endowment recognizes Haug’s leadership not just at Penn State, but on a national level. She is currently president of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). She previously served as president of music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda and the Iowa Music Teachers Association, where she received the Distinguished Service Award. She also served for 11 years on the NASM Commission on Accreditation, including the positions of associate chair and chair.

Most recently at Penn State, Haug has been part of the leadership team to develop plans for the new recital hall and remodeling of Music Building I. Construction will begin in summer 2017.

“These efforts have taken nearly six years to come to fruition, and it has been a real labor of love. I hope to see this work completed before I retire — with the expected opening of a beautiful recital hall in fall 2018 and coinciding with the end of my NASM presidency.”

Friends of the School of Music are invited to make a contribution to the Sue Haug School of Music Director’s Endowed Scholarship at www.GiveTo.psu.edu/SecretHaugScholarship. The names of donors who contribute gifts by June 15 will be included in a special presentation piece given to Haug as a remembrance of the community’s admiration and appreciation.